AP File PhotoRookie goaltender Jimmy Howard has delivered in big games for the Detroit Red Wings, allowing them to climb from ninth place to fifth in the Western Conference.DETROIT -- As Jimmy Howard prepares for the biggest stretch of games in his young professional career, the Detroit Red Wings hope he has a little Chris Osgood in him -- such as the abilities to be calm under pressure and resilient following a bad goal or tough loss.

Osgood in the past two years led the Red Wings to consecutive appearances in the Stanley Cup finals and won his second title as a starter in 2008.

This is Howard’s time and Howard’s team, though.

As brilliant as the 26-year-old rookie goaltender has been for a team riddled by injuries the first three-quarters of the season, the playoffs will be an entirely new experience.

“It’s not like a playoff game until it’s a playoff game,’’ Red Wings coach Mike Babcock said. “You never know what’s between a guy’s ears until he’s been through it and survived.’’

That said, Babcock has complete confidence in Howard. That is the reason he used him almost exclusively down the stretch when every game was so vital in his team’s playoff push.

Howard will make his Stanley Cup playoff debut Wednesday against the Phoenix Coyotes in Game 1 at Jobing.com Arena.

Not all goalies can handle playoff pressure. Howard is embracing it.

“The crowd’s going to be into it, the buildings are going to be loud, it’s going to be a lot of fun,’’ Howard said. “I’ve been in pressure situations, I enjoy it.

“Plus, I got a great partner in Ozzie. I’m sure he’s going to be giving me little tidbits here and there about situations.’’

Howard played in big games at the University of Maine, where he set several school and collegiate records and led the Black Bears to the NCAA championship game in 2004 (lost 1-0 to Denver). He also won a gold medal for the U.S. in the Under-18 World Championships and has played in 30 AHL playoff games in four years with the Grand Rapids Griffins.

None of that compares to the magnitude of the Stanley Cup playoffs, but Howard already has delivered in big games down the stretch. He has enabled his club to climb from ninth place to fifth in the Western Conference.

Osgood knows what it’s like to be a rookie goalie in the playoffs. He started five games against San Jose in 1994 when then-coach Scotty Bowman lost confidence in veteran Bob Essensa.

“The difference (in the playoffs) will be the attention and everything that goes on off the ice,’’ Osgood said. “It’s not a matter of having to lift your game that much higher, it happens because the games are bigger. He needs to be himself and not change anything he’s done up to this point.’’

That shouldn’t be an issue, Osgood said.

“He’s always the same, he’s on an even keel, he doesn’t get too upset or too rattled,’’ Osgood said. “He kind of has the same demeanor I do, pretty relaxed, just goes and plays. He’s confident. When you have those things and work hard good, things will happen.’’

Osgood and Howard have been close since they struck up a friendship during the team’s pre-training camp gathering for goalies in 2005 in Niagara Falls.

“I don’t know how he does it, but he can tell when I’m a little tense and he’ll always come up with a one-liner that will make me laugh,’’ Howard said. “In the playoffs, I’m sure it’ll be no different.’’

Said teammate Kris Draper: “It’s got to be important for a goalie to have that kind of mindset. You want to have short-term memory. You can’t say enough about what Ozzie’s been able to do to help Howie.’’

Howard seized the opportunity to grab the starting job in November and posted a 37-15-10 record. He was fifth in the league in goals-against average (2.26) and tied for fourth in save percentage (.924). He is certain to be a finalist for the Calder Trophy as NHL rookie of the year.

Experience, maturity, conditioning and an aggressive mentality in net have enabled Howard to develop consistency, which had been an issue for him in Grand Rapids (AHL).

Red Wings goaltending coach Jim Bedard, who has worked extensively with Howard for several years, cited his improved foot speed and daily power skating drills for making him more sound. He also has done a better job of challenging shooters, taking away angles and leaving them little space.

“He’s not afraid to take chances and play aggressively outside of the blue paint, knowing our guys are there to help clear pucks,’’ Bedard said. “He battles through traffic to make himself big. His foot speed has gotten so much better that he can get out of traffic and get pushed over to where the puck goes.

“His patience on odd-man rushes, you’ll see it on two-on-ones, it’s eyeball to eyeball. He’ll wait the shooter, and then finally, the guy either puts it into him or shoots wide. And if he does score, it’s got to be an amazing shot.’’

When Osgood isn’t around to keep him loose, Howard unwinds with books, music and television. He reads best-selling author Dan Brown ("The Divinci Code", "Angels & Demons", "The Lost Symbol"). He listens to The Dave Matthews Band and John Mayer. And he has every episode of “Rescue Me’’ on DVD.

Howard’s first shining moment was a 3-1 win against Vancouver on Nov. 12, when he subbed for a flu-ridden Osgood and, playing on back-to-back nights, outdueled Roberto Lounge.

Howard made 51 saves in stealing a 2-1 win in Los Angeles on Jan. 7. He delighted the Joe Louis Arena crowd by not only beating Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh 3-1 on March 22, but also giving overzealous star Sidney Crosby a face wash during a scrum at the end of the game. And he buried some shootout demons in a 1-0, 11-round shootout win in Nashville on March 27.

For Bedard, Howard’s defining moment might have been a 3-2 shootout win in Montreal on Nov. 21 on Hockey Night in Canada.

“For Jimmy, growing up only a couple of hours away in Ogdensburg, N.Y., it was big, big game,’’ Bedard said. “That, to me, was a real footprint he put into the season.’’

Howard is not alone in his lack of playoff experience. Four other Western Conference goalies will make their postseason debut: Chicago's Antti Niemi, Los Angeles' Jonathan Quick, Nashville's Pekka Rinne and Colorado's Craig Anderson.

“At the end of the day, the playoffs, it’s a hockey game,’’ Red Wings general manager Ken Holland said. “Sometimes, people start to press and put pressure on themselves. If he continues to do everything going forward like he’s done for the last three months, he’s going to be fine.’’